Woman nabbed over work permits

NANCY SIAME, Lusaka
A 38-YEAR-OLD woman of Lusaka has been arrested for allegedly impersonating an immigration consultant and fraudulently obtaining K50,000 from an Indian businessman whom she promised to facilitate work permits for.

Immigration department public relations officer Namati Nshinka said in a statement yesterday that Coretta Blockley, a resident of Chalala, was arrested at Kabulonga Central Mall around 13:00 hours on Tuesday.
Mr Nshinka said Ms Blockley, on an unknown date but between August 1 and 21 this year, introduced herself as a registered immigration consultant and received K50,000 from the Indian businessman as payment for applications for extension of three employment permits.
“The Indian presented two fake approval letters to immigration officers in an attempt to collect the employment permits which he thought were extended and were ready for collection,” he said.
Mr Nshinka said the businessman cooperated with immigration officers in setting a trap for Ms Blockley, who, thinking she was being presented with an opportunity to extort more money, agreed to meet him at Kabulonga Central Mall.
When the businessman went to the shopping mall, immigration officers were on hand to arrest Ms Blockley.
“Ms Blockley has in the past been warned against this unlawful practice on more than one occasion,” he said.
Mr Nshinka cautioned members of the public against engaging unregistered immigration consultants because they risk being exposed to fraud.